Peach gripper for peach pitting head



1964 M. w. LOVELAND 3,162,224

PEACH GRIPPER FOR PEACH FITTING HEAD 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 3, 1963 K m m v m MALCOLM W LOVELAND MMd- ATTORNEYS Dec. 22, 1964 w, LOVELAND I 3,162,224

PEACH GRIPPER FOR PEACH FITTING HEAD Filed July 3, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

MALCOLM W LOVELAND BYMW'LM ATTORNEYS 1964 M. w. LOVELAND 3,162,224

PEACH GRIPPER FOR PEACH FITTING HEAD Filed July 5, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 /a5 /34 /00 ii" W I: flllo M 4 :28 i 1 n2 LII8 INVENTOR. MALCOLM w LOVELAND M ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,162,224 PEACH SKIPPER EUR FEAQH i-ETTENG HEAD Malcolm W. Lowland, Orinda, (Salli, assignor to Atlas Pacific Engineering Company, a corporation 0: California Filed July 3, 1963, Ser. No. 292,626 9 (Ilairns. ((11. l46--28) This invention relates to a torque peach splitter and pitter of the type disclosed in Us. Patent 2,952,286 and more particularly to such a structure which is capable of splitting and pitting peaches with off-center pits.

The machine disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. patent has a pair of jaws which grip either half of a peach adhering to the pit while the pit itself is held by other jaws and thereafter turn the peach halves relative to the pit to effect separation. The aforementioned structure is capable of handling peaches with reasonably well centered pits. But as a fair proportion of the fruit which is encountered has the pits well displaced from center, such machines have not always performed entirely satisfactorily. That is, machines which have been available heretofore operate in such a fashion that the pit determines the position of the fruit between the jaws which twist on the peach flesh. Hence, a greatly off-center pit causes the fruit to be off-center with respect to the fleshtwisting jaws and the fruit may be damaged by these jaws.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an apparatus for splitting and pitting peaches, especially of the clingstone variety.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an apparatus of the type aforementioned especially adapted for handling, without damage to the flesh, peaches having pits which are greatly off-center.

Other objects and advantages of this invention, if not specifically set forth, will become apparent during the course of the description which follows.

Generally, this invention comprises a peach splitter and pitter of the torque type wherein peach halves are gripped adjacent the medial plane thereof by cinch bands while jaws grip the pit, the bands being resiliently anchored so that they are capable of yielding in the direction of a force exerted on them by the flesh of a peach, thus to avoid damage to peaches with off-centered pits.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary plan view similar to FIG- URE 2 of Patent 2,952,286 showing a peach splitter and pitter embodying the novel construction of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary section taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary section similar to FIG- URE 2 but showing a peach with a normally centered pit gripped by the cinch bands of this invention.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view similar to FIGURES 2 and 3 but showing a peach having an off-center pit gripped by the cinch bands.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary vertical section through the line 55 of FlGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a side elevation of a portion of the apparatus of this invention.

The structure of this invention is similar to that of the aforementioned Harrer et al. Patent 2,952,286 and includes a frame, a guillotine assembly for cutting a peach about its suture and gripping its pit in the plane of the suture, a reciprocating feed assembly for periodically de- I livering peaches to the guillotine assembly, and a peach cup and at the other end by anchoring means, means for rotating the cup so as to tension the bands into frictional engagement with a peach half, and means for resistively holding the anchoring means against rotation relative to its associated cup.

To the extent to which the elements and functions of the machine of this invention do not depart from the Hatter et al. machine, details will be omitted here.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like characters refer to like parts throughout, secured to the frame intermediate its forward and rear ends is a transversely extending supporting member Ill} having therein a bearing housing or block 312 (FIGURE 1). Formed in the block 12 is a pair of vertical bores as shown in the aforementioned Harrer et al. patent and mounted therein are suitable bearing sleeves in which are journalled parallel vertical shafts 1d and 15 which in turn support helical gears 16 and 18. Also journalled in the bearing block 12 is a shaft 19 and secured thereto in mesh with the gears 16 and 18 is a gear 2% for driving the gears 16 and 18 but in the same direction.

The arms 22 and 24 are secured at the lower ends of the shafts l4 and 15 respectively in the fashion of the arms 6 and 65 of the aforementioned Harrer et al. patent. Shafts 26 and 28 are horizontally disposed beneath the arms 22 and 24 in the fashion of the shafts 71 and 72 of the Harrer et al. patent and to the shafts are keyed sprocket wheels 3i? and 32 about which are trained sprocket chains 34 and 36.

Since the peach gripping and rotating mechanism associated with the forward ends of the arms 22 and 24 are identcal with the exception that one can be considered as right hand and the other as left hand, only the structure associated with the arm 22 will be specifically described.

At the forwardrnost end of the arm 22 is bearing housing 44 in which are mounted the bearings 42 (FIGURE 5) which are spaced by sleeve 43. The bearings are held in place by retaining ring and screw assembly 44. The shaft 46 having sprocket 47 keyed thereto is journalled in the bearing and threaded at its lowermost end to receive nut 50 which forces washer 52 tightly into engagement with the inner shoulder of the fruit encompassing cup 54 which is keyed to shaft 45 at 55. Mounted about the hub of the cup 54 is the bushing 56 which is held in place by the flange 4'5 of the shaft 46 and journalled about the bushing is the brake drum 58 which serves as an anchoring means for the cinch bands aforementioned.

Integral with the frame is the cam support 64 having thereon cam 62 against which rides cam roller 64 on arm as. The arm 66 is pivoted to arm 22 at point 68. Carried by the arm as is the pin 70 (FIGURE 2) which is fitted into a slot in block '72, in turn supporting pin 74 upon which the brake shoe 76 is mounted. Lining 77 bears against the stainless steel wear-ring 78 of the drum 58. Compression spring till bears on the block 72 and at its other end on the shoulder 82 of the screw 84. Bell crank 86 is pivoted at 83 and controlled by means of the manual adjustment screw 90. This provides means for varying the position of the shoulder 82 and hence the pressure of the lining 77 upon the wear-ring 78.

Brake drum 58 is coaxially mounted and free-wheeling with respect to the cup 54, with the exception of the connection provided by the torsion spring which surrounds bushing M1 in turn mounted about the hub of cup 54. As seen in FEGURE 5, the ends of the torsion spring are received in holes in each of brake drum 53 and the cup 54. As will be explained in greater detail below, the function of the torsion spring 109 is to permit the brake drum 58 to return to a predetermined position with respect to the head 54 at such time as the brake shoe 76 is retracted.

. tracted positions.

'thereof,as= seen inrFIGUR'E 5, to the brake .drurn' SSand at 'theklower' end thereof tothe leveruarm 110 which is integral. with the hollowshaft'104, wherebynormally to urge the arm 110 in a clockwise .direction,.as:-seen in FIGURE 2. 'FlXedIO.!the'1OW61"e1'ld of each pin 102,

:as seen in'FIGURE 5, is'therarm '112 having stop pm 114 mounted therein which serves .to terminate clockwise movement of arm 110.

Each leverarm 1:10 carries ;an.upstanding; pin116 to whichissecuredgyoke 1 1.8 which-supports one .end ofnthe springsteel cinch band 120. Ea'chband has an-escalloped :rubberfacing 121.

The opposite end of each band is provided-with a yoke, not shown, mounted about a: pin

.122 carried-by the .distal end of the banana-shaped, arm

124., Each arm 124"is pivoted to a boss lis which is a :partof thecasting ofthe cup-element 54. As.seen in FIGUREHS, each boss 128' has an internal bushing 130 in whichi-is rotatably mounted pin132. The, pin has a collar 134 :held by a -set screW 135 ,(FIGURE' 6) and supportsthe banana-shaped arm 124 at the opposite end thereof. Torsion springslfiusnormally urge theqbanana- -shapedarminaclockwise direction, as seen in FIGURE 2.

The apparatus of this-invention is-provided' with a peach-half ejector similar to that shown in the Harrer et a1. patent aforementioned. Slideably mounted in the; arm

'22. coaXially withthe cup54-is a rod 140'terminating at its inner endin a peach half ejecting disc or pad 1.42. Surrounding the inner portion of the rod 140- isa com- .pression spring 144 accommodated within'a counterbore in .the shaft 46. Jam nuts 146 are threaded onto'the shaft 46: through which the rod 140 passes and lock sprocket .47--tightly .against the race of upper. bearing- 42. Collar 148-at the outer .end of rod 140 limits or gauges the inward movernent of the disc 142. ,As theresultof this construction, each disc 142 serves to'eject-th'e-peach halves from thecups 54- as the cupszmoveto their'open or re- As-inthe machine ofpatent 2,952,286 keyedto the drive shaft 160 is the-interrupted gear 162 arranged to -mesh with a complementaryinterrupted'pinion164, thepinion 164 being. keyed to the. shaft 166 (FIGURE 1). Theshaft 166 isjournalled in bearings mounted in the frame. =A1so .keyedto the shaft'166 isa helical gear-168 inmesh-with a gear 170 journalled to a shaft 172 andin driving engage- .ment with gear '18. -As a result'of this construction, the

gear 18.is periodically driven by the trainlof gears, including theinterruptedgears 162. and 164. Since the-gear 18 is in. drivingwrelationship with the gear 16 through the .intermediate .gear' 20, the gears 16 and 18 periodically rotateinthe same. direction in response toithe rotation-of .thedrive shaft-160. ..But since the gears 16 and 18. are keyed, respectively, tothetwo shafts 14-and 15, the'rotation .ofthegears *16 and 18 .results.i-n the rotationof t-wo .Qpposedsprocketwheels30 andt32 (FIGURE, 1)

..In operatiom anfoperator:feeds peachesto an-arrangernenttsimilartothat shown in the aforementioned Harrer etal.-patentand each peach is impaled :onknives :and'its pit located; between arcuate recesses-:in therkni'ves. 200.

As seen in FIGURE S-the-peachis substantially ringed by cups*54-, the; two: peach halves being held together because imurn diameter. Immediately after thetwo cops have .fullyEclosed over a peachythey begin to rotate in opposite idlIClZlOllS. iThat is, each spr-ocket 47' rotates a shaft 46 and azcup 54. As -the brake drum is-initially'held against movementiby -the action of thebr-ake shoe 76,- pin-102 is not advanced counter-clockwise but the bosses 128 supporting the banana-shaped A arm- 124 are rotated counterclockwise through the action of cups 54. If the peach is one having a pit which is centered as shown in FIGURE 3, the leverarms 110 will each be rotated counter-clockwise an approximately equal distance against the resistance of torsion springs ltls. On the other hand, as seen-in-FIG- .URE 4, should the peach' have a pitwhichis located Well toward one side, the knives" 200 will grip the pitand force the peach flesh-toward one side: of the cups 54. The first of the cinch bands to contact the peach surface, the band designated 121a in FIGURE 4, is supported from pin 122a. fThe armv124aisnot permitted to-pivotinwardly towardzits. corresponding. pin 102a:.to.. as greaLan: extent as :a rms" 1241;. i and. 124a because 'of' the resistance 'of. the surface of the .peach. 1-.Hence :the. distance between the pin -102aand pin 122a -.becomes;:greater1 than;:the.;distance :between either pin1'102b. andupina122b or rbetween .pin 1020- and =pin1122c. The resilient; mounting of leverarm 110a deflects to accommodate the; miscenteredspeach.

It will be :noted-szthat: each of-.:the "other .levermarms designated-1101a. and 1100, respectively; arezshownin FIG- .URE 4:.have beenr/pivoted :a lesser:distance,.:since;;the respective banana-shaped arms: 1241b and 1240 have'been permitted .to :pivot greater distances: 1 countenclockwise :hence requiring-less compensatoryipiyoting of levers 11% and 1100. I

The .setting of;spring :80 which;,determines-' the; pressure exerted; by the brake lining 77,. againsttithe wear-ring .78 of the :brake drum '58 :is; such; that aften/the; condition ,shownin FIGURE 3,.or 4-is reached-the: hrakedrumi-58 begins to slide with respect .to;the:brakevshoe 76 so gthat continued rotation of *the sprocket wheel47qvmerely results in the rotation of the entire;assembly-"which is mountedadjacenttheqbearing housing 40. --H0we,ver,, even after-rotation of-qdrum ss; has hegun; the dragsxexerted by shoe 7 6 keeps the bands .120 wraPPfid faboutlthe. peach substantially-as tightly as when rotation=ofidrumi58 first began. Thus, WhCI'ljthC peach-breaksfreeof the-pit; further closure of:the-bandsmis, possible-a0;maintain;aizfirm grip on each peachhalf.

Also; the setting of thespring 80 musbbe such thatjthe cinch bands 120 willgrip the exterior oflth pea h; uf- .ficiently tightly that the-escalloped. surfaces -121=will not rotate with vrespect -to. the; peach surface after-. cpntact therewith. That-is,.the cinch bands'must grip thepeach exterior sufiiciently tightly that; the rotational force required to, separate the peach flesh' from the-pit, is; not

' great enough to cause the cinch bands to slide-over the peach surface, as :thiswould asim ply unan the, surface.

At such time asthe entire cup and brake drum'assemply has. rotated. 180, an-arrangementof thetype shown in the aforementioned Harrer. et,---al.,ipatent.causes-;the

arms 22 and 24 to swing away'frorn' onevanother. Roller 64 rides. along the surface ofc-the'camu6 2 and thereby releases the. brake shoe 76. Torsionspripgrlfiflscauses the brake drum 58 to .return to-its original-positionrelativeto the cup. 54, .and vthepeach -ejector--or,=pad 142 returns .to .itsrest position from .the position shown in FIGURE 5 and the peach is thus'removed: from the assembly.

Proper operation of the deviceisdependent,impart, on providing springs. of certain strengthsrelativeto one another. "These relationships may-be summarizedvasfolows:

Spring 108- has sufficient strength to secure :good frictional gripping of the-peach.

Spring 134 has sufiicient-strengthto. hold. lever 124 upwards against the-force. of gravity ..when lever 124 is at the topmost position.

Spring is strong enough to returnthebrake SS-to the position shownin FIGURE 2.

Spring'.80 has sufficient-strength .to..develop -enough is adjustable with hand .,knob 90.

Spring 140 has suificient strength to eject peach halves rapidly from the head after torquing.

'It will be apparent that two or more than three cinch bands could be used, though three is a most convenient number. Also, alternative structures permitting the ends of the cinch bands held by pins 116 to move in the direction of forces exerted from the opposite ends or otherwise permitting an effective differential lengthening of individual cinch bands in response to differential forces may be used.

Obvously, many modifications and variations of the invention as hereinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and therefore only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A peach pitting head comprising:

(a) first and second band-anchoring members arranged for rotation relative to each other on a common axis and substantially in a common plane trans verse to said axis;

(b) means for rotating said first band-anchoring member;

(c) means for resisting rotation of said second bandanchoring member at the same rate and in the same direction as said first band-anchoring member; and

(d) means securing at least a pair of flexible peachgripping bands at one end of each band to the said second band-anchoring member and at the opposite end of each band to the first band-anchoring member, said means for securing said peach-gripping bands to the said first band-anchoring member comprising arms pivoted to the said first band-anchoring member, said peach-gripping bands being secured to the said arms at the distal ends thereof, said means for securing said bands to said second band-anchoring means having resilient means in operative association therewith, said resilient means permitting the ends of the said bands secured to the second anchoring means to yield in the direction of forces applied to the ends of the said bands secured to the arms of the said first band-anchoring member.

2. A peach pitting head comprising:

(a) first and second band-anchoring members arranged for rotation relative to each other on a common axis and substantially in a common plane transverse to said axis;

(b) means for rotating and first band-anchoring member intermittently;

(c) means for resisting rotation of said second handanchoring member at the same rate and in the same direction as said first band-anchoring member during a portion of the time when said first bandanchoring member is being rotated; and

(d) means securing at least a pair of flexible peachgripping bands at one end of each band to the said second band-anchoring member and at the opposite end of each band to the first band-anchoring member, said means for securing said peach-gripping bands to the said first band-anchoring member comprising -arms pivoted to the said first band anchoring member, said peach-gripping bands being secured to the said arms at the distal ends thereof, said means for securing said bands to said second band-anchoring means comprising levers pivoted to said second band-anchoring means, said levers being resiliently biased to resist force applied to the ends of the said bands secured to the arms of the said first band-anchoring member.

3. A peach pitting head comprising:

(a) first and second band-anchoring members arranged for rotation relative to each other on a common axis and substantially in a common plane transverse to said axis;

(b) means for rotating said first band-anchoring member intermittently;

(0) means for resisting rotation of said second bandanchoring member at the same rate and in the same direction as said first band-anchoring member during a portion of the time when said first bandanchoring member is being rotated;

(d) means securing three flexible peach-gripping bands at one end of each band to the said second bandanchoring member and at the opposite end of each band to the first band-anchoring member, said means for securing said peach-gripping bands to the said first band-anchoring member comprising arcuate arms pivoted to the said first band-anchoring member, said peach-gripping bands being secured to the said arms at the distal ends thereof, said means for securing said bands to said second band-anchoring means having resilient means in operative association therewith, said resilient means permitting the ends of the said bands secured to the second anchoring means to yield in the direction of forces applied to the ends of the said bands secured to the arms of the said first band-anchoring member.

4. A peach pitting head comprising:

(a) first and second band-anchoring members arranged for rotation relative to each other on a common axis and substantially in a common plane transverse to said axis;

(1)) means for rotating said first band-anchoring member intermittently;

(0) means for resisting rotation of said second bandanchoring member at the same rate and in the same direction as said first band-anchoring member during a portion of the time when said first band-anchoring member is being rotated;

(d) means securing three flexible peach-gripping bands at one end of each band to the said second bandanchoring member and at the opposite end of each band to the first band-anchoring member, said means for securing said peach-gripping bands to the said first band-anchoring member comprising arcuate arms pivoted to the said first band-anchoring member, said peach-gripping bands being secured to the said arms at the distal ends thereof, said means for securing said bands to said second band-anchoring means having resilient means in operative association therewith normally biasing the ends of the said bands secured to said second band-anchoring means outwardly from the common axis of said bandanchoring members, said resilient means permitting the said last-mentioned band ends to yield in the direction of the common axis of the said band-anchoring members on the application of force tending to pull said bands toward the said common axis.

5. A peach pitting head comprising:

(a) first and second band-anchoring members arranged for rotation relative to each other on a common axis and substantially in a common plane transverse to said axis;

(b) means for rotating said first band-anchoring member intermittently;

(c) means for resisting rotation of said second bandanchoring member at the same rate and in the same direction as said first band-anchoring member during a portion of the time when said first band anchoring member is being rotated;

((1) means securing at least a pair of flexible peachgripping bands at one end of each band to the said second band-anchoring member and at the opposite end of each band to the first band-anchoring member, said means for securing said peach-gripping bands to the said first band-anchoring member comprising arcuate arms pivoted to the said first bandanchoring member, said peach-gripping bands being secured to the said arms at the distal ends thereof,

id. means for. secu sa dvband to. said second r'esilientlyrrbiased.v elr sist rranpl editother of the said bands secured. tojthe arms of the said first nd-an he na-m mher; an

( ans f r. advancing. s i sec nd,. an zahehp s ember a d stanc su ic en to, a sum ,a pr de mined positionrelative to the said first ban d;ang:horg memb vwh n i rotatio resi t smeans of Para r ph (c) .isinQQ H t v pe rit i head mat s ns;

(a), fi standlseeond;bandan ho h me nbet arran .f etat en rela i eeh-eth r on .a .eem axisani substan ia lyin comment Pl ne ehs t id x s;

( m an e rot tin sa drfir t band-an hor nsm nterm tt ntly;

( eans. fo esistin etat en-ef said s eend J an' her ns. m mbera h sam rate an in th same i ec ion. as a d fi s ande nehe ia rmembe h .a p rtion o th t me when said fir h r h wmem e is being. r ated; land a means ringthremfl x hl peae z tiap ng n t. one en o leaehlban teth sa d. se on han e er -ng. membe ndlat. he: opposit end .efi each nd o. he fir tban L-an he ins m mb esa dm for securing said" peach-gripping bands to the said s endraneho ing memb r mp in .ate a (by) ,meansfor rotating saidfirst, band-.anchoring mem I ber intermittently;

(0) means for resisting rotationof saidsecond bandanchoringmember; at the. same rate; and" in the same direction as said firstrbandranchoring member during a portion of: the time-when saidvfirst band-anchoring member is being, rotated; I

i (d) means securinggthree flexible peaclngripgingsbands at one end ofz each band to thesaid secondg bandanch ringm r a d at h e n te-end eh each hand; tozthesfir r andranehering mem er, s i an for securing said:peach:gr-ippingbands'to the ,said

first bandeanohoring rmember comprising; arcnate arms-pivoted to .the said -firstuband-anchoring memher, said -.peach+gripping bands. being securedato the said arms at the distal ends thereof, said means for securing 1 said bands to saidsecond band-anchoring means comprising levers pivoted-to said second bandanehoring-means, said" levers being resiliently biased to resist force applied to the'ends of thesaid bands securedto the arms of the. said 'first bandganchoring member; and V (e) an escalloped' rel astomericl facing a secured. to 1 each of.said,bands.

8. Apeachpitting headcomprising:

(a) firstand,secondbandranchoringmembers arranged for rotationrelativeltoreach other on a-comrnon axis and substantially in a common plane, transverse to saidaxis; (b means for rotating said. first band-anchoring mem r; (0) means for resisting rot-ation of'said' secondfibandanchoring member at thesame. rate and in the same d ct on a saidifirst .be -en he mb r ur portin th tim a (41) means, securing at least a pair of flexible peachd of eaeh e d t t fi s i and aneh r ngmem h r s d mea f ec r n said w tc ernnin be d t th a d tb nd%an her n emh etnprising arms pivoted to the said first; band-anchoring member, said peach-gripping bands 'being secured to the said s at t edistatends th ee l, sai m a fo eeurirseid bends tesei secon bend-ancho rinsrme hs hav n res l en m ans, i ope t ve. as ti nt erew th; sai f es lil nt. m ans p rm t n the ends of the said bands secured to the secendlanchorinamean t yieldin he di ee i'eh of 'eree vepp i to-the ends of the said bands secured to the arms of v he a -.fi ban rene o ingmemb r;

( v s ond as mb y ae r ih rt rp esr p (a)( )i, rr h e 1 9 fac em y of para p (a)(d) w th the peachr pping. lends t a h as emb y jacen ne n the sai secon a s m being arranged for rotation in theopp site, direction a the. aid rs ass bly, re ehr fgsatd as em being provided with m'ean s for pivoting the said .esse nb iesavray-frem. on n he wh eby eexp i he aidjpea rippins h n her o .A p ehp t a ',headfeempr ns= (a) first and. secondhand-anchoring members arranged for rotation r elative to eachother vt'. n.av,c. l rntnon axis and substantially in acommon plane -transverse to sa d. e .s;. v I

(b) I means, for rotating saidffirst, band-anchoring member intermittently; V

(e), meansfor resisting rotation of said secondhandanchoring member att the same rate and inthe same direction as said first band-anchoring rnemben said means comprising a brake shoe; in, frictionalengagement with said second: bandranchpring member, said brake shoe being resiliently urged against the. said s nd andre eh ri smem wh by to 1 pe t rotation thereof on the application. of',a predetermined rotation force-to the said second band anchor ing member; and

(41) means securing at least a pair of ,flexiblepeachgripping bands at one end of each band to. the; said second band-anchoring member and'at, the opposite end of eachband tothe firstlbandr-ancliori'ng'memher, said means for securing said peach-gripping bands tov the said first band-anchoring member comprisingarms pivoted to the said first, band-anchoring embe s id, pea r ri ping,handsrbe ng' s u to the said arms a t thedistal ends thereof, saidmeans for securing .said bands to said second band-anchoring means having resilient rneans, inoperative. association therewith, said resilient means. permitting the ends of thesaidbands secured ;to 'thesecond anchoring means to yieldin thedirectibnpfi forces applied to the endsof the said bands secured to, thefarms o th aid fir b ndi-enehor amem e 

1. A PEACH PITTING HEAD COMPRISING: (A) FIRST AND SECOND BAND-ANCHORING MEMBERS ARRANGED FOR ROTATION RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER ON A COMMON AXIS AND SUBSTANTIALLY IN A COMMON PLANE TRANSVERSE TO SAID AXIS; (B) MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID FIRST BAND-ANCHORING MEMBER; (C) MEANS FOR RESISTING ROTATION OF SAID SECOND BANDANCHORING MEMBER AT THE SAME RATE AND IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS SAID FIRST BAND-ANCHORING MEMBER; AND (D) MEANS SECURING AT LEAST A PAIR OF FLEXIBLE PEACHGRIPPING BANDS AT ONE END OF EACH BAND TO THE SAID SECOND BAND-ANCHORING MEMBER AND AT THE OPPOSITE END OF EACH BAND TO THE FIRST BAND-ANCHORING MEMBER, SAID MEANS FOR SECURING SAID PEACH-GRIPPING BANDS TO THE SAID FIRST BAND-ANCHORING MEMBER COMPRISING ARMS PIVOTED TO THE SAID FIRST BAND-ANCHORING MEMBER, SAID PEACH-GRIPPING BANDS BEING SECURED TO THE SAID ARMS AT THE DISTAL ENDS THEREOF, SAID MEANS FOR SECURING SAID BANDS TO SAID SECOND BAND-ANCHORING MEANS HAVING RESILIENT MEANS IN OPERATIVE ASSOCIATION THEREWITH, SAID RESILIENT MEANS PERMITTING THE ENDS OF THE SAID BANDS SECURED TO THE SECOND ANCHORING MEANS TO YIELD IN THE DIRECTION OF FORCES APPLIED TO THE ENDS OF THE SAID BANDS SECURED TO THE ARMS OF THE SAID FIRST BAND-ANCHORING MEMBER. 